Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships has resumed its journey to leave the Suez Canal, 106 days after becoming wedged across a southern section of the waterway for nearly a week and disrupting global trade.

A Reuters witness on board a tug boat saw the Ever Given start to move north in the Great Bitter Lake (see Monday's 'agreement' story), which separates two sections of the canal and where it has been moored with its Indian crew since being refloated on 29 March.

Canal sources said the vessel would be escorted by two tug boats and guided by two experienced pilots as it makes its way through the canal, one of the world's busiest waterways, towards the Mediterranean Sea.

A ceremony was held at the canal to mark the departure of the ship, which is loaded with about 18,300 containers.

The Ever Given had become grounded in the southernmost, single-lane stretch of the canal on 23 March amid high winds.

RTE News has more on this story.